Category: Events

Not many people know this about me, but I have technically finished a half marathon before.

This was four or five years ago. A good friend of mine, who has a suspicious talent for convincing people to do things they ordinarily wouldn’t do, asked me to sign up with her. Her sister—an actual runner—was coming into town for the San Francisco Marathon, and my friend was signing up in solidarity.

“But,” she promised, “We’ll just walk the first mile or so, then we’ll duck out for brunch.”

This was exactly my kind of half marathon. I registered, and instead of training for the race or even opening the information emails, I spent the weeks leading up to the race carefully inspecting Google maps and Yelp for brunch places along the route. I wanted to have options, because getting a brunch table in SF can be a total shitshow. Especially on big event weekends.

Race day rolled around and I dutifully found my friend at the start line after almost not getting my bib. Because no, I hadn’t gone to packet pickup; I had to track down some frazzled event organizer just moments before the event started.

We started running along the Embarcadero and through the gray fog and among the thousands of people who had turned out for the event. Those first few miles were exhilarating. I loved the energy, the feeling of being part of something, the flatness of that part of the course, and, of course, imagining just how many pastries I’d be able to eat thanks to a supercharged appetite.

“Shall we duck out now?” I remember asking as we ran through the Marina. Plenty of good brunch options there!

“Let’s just go a little farther,” my friend said.

We repeated that conversation several more times before it hit home that we weren’t really ducking out for brunch.

I’d been had.

We kept going. Up and over the Golden Gate, and back again. Through the Presidio. By the ocean. At some point, my pace devolved into a limping walk. All my training had taken place in front of a computer and in search of pancakes, and it showed.

I won’t go into too many details about the meltdown that was the last half of that race. Let’s just say, we made it across the finish line long after the last of the promised Irish coffees had been doled out. Womp.

I learned a few key things that foggy morning in San Francisco, and they had plenty of time to soak into my soul while we waited, shivering, in the long line for the bus back to our cars. (Clearly, this story is pre-Lyft).

Lessons:

Don’t fall for the brunch bait

Don’t start a race you have neither intention nor ability to finish

I’m sharing this story because once again I’ve been strong armed into signing up for a half marathon. This time, it wasn’t bacon; it was beer that got me to enter my credit card information.

A (different) friend has convinced me to sign up for the Shiner half marathon in, you guessed it, Shiner, Texas. I hear there is abundant beer at the finish line. And to make sure I make it there before they run out, I’ve also signed up for a training program with Rogue Runners (who the fuck am I, right now?).

All that said, here’s why I’m really doing it: not for the bacon, not for the booze: for my baby. Err, one of my babies. The not-human one. The business baby.

That sounds weird.

Moving on.

You see, ever since we started Fit Approach, I’ve been an enthusiastic crew member, cheerleader, and sympathetic beer drinker at races and other run-focused events.

I’ll even get up really, really early for ultra marathon start lines.

I’ve been to enough of them—and have enough spent time with runners—that, in critical moments, I can reasonably pretend to be a person who runs.

The beer mile is my best event.

Like, in business meetings, while working expo booths, etc.

Eating Doritos in a van counts as training, right?

I’m kind of tired of pretending. And also, we’re hosting our first-ever race & yoga weekend this summer, and I want to be a part of it. I felt such amazing energy surrounded by complete strangers in those first few miles of my doomed half, I can’t imagine the high that would come from spending time with my community, for a race I was actually prepared for.

So, yes, I’m training for a half marathon in November. But the real reason I’m hitting the pavement is because come August, I plan to walk the walk. (Run the run?). Maybe not a half – we’ll see how the training goes – but definitely for the 10k. It’ll be the farthest I’ve ever run.

Join me?

And, since you’ve made it this far (a marathon unto itself!), you definitely deserve a discount. FLEXANDFLOW for 20% off, y’all.

I just got back from our first-ever yoga retreat in Sonoma, CA, and you guys, it was everything.

I’m still riding a high from a whole weekend spent with my people in the beautiful sunny wine country—and yes, from my first weekend away from Mac.

I got to spend so much quality time with people I love, from our team:

To college friends:

And sweat pink sisters!

I did a bunch of yoga, hiking, and HIIT & Flow.

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten this sweaty and this sore, and it felt oh-so-good to really dig in for an active weekend.

How cute is my Momentum Jewelry wrap?

I wore my Momentum Jewelry wrap all weekend like a watch. Every time I’d glance down at my wrist, it was the perfect reminder of what time it was: time to EMPOWER and INSPIRE.

I grew a ton in my practice: I hit peacock (yay!). For the first time EVER I managed to jump back into chaturanga from crow pose. That felt like a major breakthrough moment – and all it took was just hearing it described a different way. I felt like I’d unlocked a new skill that had been lying in wait for me.

I have yet another pair of pants I’m obsessed with (thanks prAna!).

These are the most comfy. Seriously. It feels like you’re wearing nothing, and they’re so pretty. Our whole team, without coordinating it, ended up picking the same pair.

We range from 5’1″ to 6′ … and size 0 to… ??? and these pants fit us all beautifully!

Except Liz, who got to be a stand out from the crowd in a different pair. 😉

Save 25% off prAna using the code POWERPRANA at checkout (valid until 4.15.17).

I’m obsessed with my Handful bra. It’s the softest, silkiest, most flattering sports bra ever… and look, they seriously look good on everyone!

And the FOOD. Oh, the food. We were treated to 3 full, healthy, fresh meals a day at the ranch, and of course, we brought along extra snacks to share with everyone because, um, we were working out a bajillion times every day. We made three flavors of protein balls AND protein muffins with Designer Protein and Amazing Grass (recipes on the Flex & Flow blog!):

You can’t be too protected… and the Sweat Cosmetics helped keep my skin tone evened out and less shiny during all our sweaty activities. I’m not really a person who wears makeup while working out… but when you’re taking this many pictures, it becomes necessary to at least give yourself a little pre-filtering help. Plus, it’s such an easy, lightweight, non-greasy way to add some SPF to your day. I’ve been using it every morning before going outside just as extra protection.

Use SWEATPINK for 10% off Sweat Cosmetics!

Stomach bug and all, I came home feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, more ME than I’ve felt in a long, long time. I was so happy to see my family after a few days away … not least because I’d had a little breast pump snafu and needed my baby like WOAH …

If you’re on the fence about a retreat / fitcation away, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a vacation you don’t need a vacation from when you come home; you come home feeling stronger, more rested, more relaxed, and happier.

ALSO. For all of you who prefer parties that don’t require makeup or getting dressed or moving off the couch (first trimester ladies I’m talking to YOU!), join us tonight for the Lorna Jane twitter party.

If you’ve never done a twitter party before, this is a great one to start with. Here’s what you can expect:

A series of questions that everyone will weigh in on, using the #LJInspired and #sweatpink hashtags

A flurry of activity and responses and @ mentions and retweets like you’ve never seen

A big uptick in your Twitter engagement and following (in case those things matter to you!).

Nice people, prizes, loads of inspiration, and no dress code or cocktails you have to politely refuse.